Readers write 9/16

FAIRY TALE, INDEED

Response to "Obama's tune playing now: Hail to us chiefs." Opinion, Sept. 9

Columnist Maureen Dowd calls Obama the “storybook president.” ). Yes — and the story is “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”

MARY MARTIN BOWEN, DECATUR

TAXES

Speak up about a new Falcons stadium

Give crooked politicians an inch and they’ll kick you right between the eyes with a foot (“Reed: Project could hit $1.2B,” News, Sept. 11).

Taxpayers (other than just football fans) need to make their voices heard about the proposal to replace the Georgia Dome as the Falcons’ nest with a new stadium.

This is at a time when Atlanta schools aren’t exactly “making the grade,” MARTA service is staggering under budget shortfalls, public library budgets have been cut, etc.

Why do we need a brand new stadium for the Falcons?

Something has changed Mayor Kasim Reed since he was elected to office.

He did not always bow so low to the “almighty dollar,” but the voice of big money seems to be whispering in his ear more and more — which means taxpayers will be heard less and less.

WILL LANCE, ATLANTA

POLITICS

Candidates should have to pass test, too

Regarding “License should be required to be a voter” (Readers write, Opinion, Sept. 9), another letter writer thinks voters should have to pass tests to be licensed to vote.

If that’s so, political candidates and Supreme Court judges should also have to pass tests, beginning with an I.Q. test.

Anyone who has the privilege of judging others or making rules for other people should have at least an above-average I.Q.

They should be able to pass a psychological test capable of revealing their ability to have empathy for others, and not just for themselves or folks just like them.

No matter how intelligent a person is, personal bias concerning gender, race, religion or social standing can poison all their decisions.

I am not a psychiatrist and I have no idea if such tests are available or doable — but if they aren’t, they should be.

MARGARET CURTIS, ATLANTA

ELECTION 2012

Obama doesn’t know how to compromise

AJC columnist Jay Bookman (“Can this marriage be saved?” Opinion, Sept. 9) lauds President Barack Obama for saying, “No party has a monopoly on wisdom. No democracy works without compromise.”

However, this president also said, “Elections have consequences” and, “I won,” as he discarded Republican ideas when developing the ill-fated stimulus bill.

I don’t recall bipartisanship when Obamacare was passed using the nuclear option of budget reconciliation, and President Obama openly mocked Paul Ryan’s budget ideas.

To suggest that this president is a compromiser is ridiculous.

Bill Clinton understood compromise. Barack Obama does not.

DANA HERMANSON, MARIETTA

ORGANIC FOOD

Focus on the effects of pesticides, fertilizers